Concern over proximity of proposed plaza entrance to road

Friday

Feb 8, 2013 at 3:15 AM

By Liz Markhlevskayalmark@fosters.com

ROCHESTER — In reviewing plans for a commercial building at the corner of Brock and Washington streets on Monday, Planning Board members showed concern over how close the plaza entrance would be to the intersection.

McGroen Partners, LLC, has applied to build a three-story retail and office building on the 1.68-acre parcel, which the real estate development partnership purchased in December. Preliminary review of the plans took place on Monday.

“It would be a very nice, attractive building. We hope to build a building there that will be a landmark,” said Fenton Groen, co-owner of Groen Builders, which is a 50-percent partner in McGroen Partners.

Groen said he and Groen Builders have been looking to build a commercial building in the Washington Street area for some time. He noted the proximity to the Spaulding Turnpike, and the multitude of existing businesses in that area.

“It is just a prime commercial lot for the (Route) 202 entrance into Rochester,” said Groen. “We believe that there will be numerous retail businesses that will find it very attractive.”

The 20,475-square-foot building would sit across from Staples, and would be accompanied by about 80 parking spaces. Entrances and exits to the building would be both on Washington Street and on Brock Street.

David Walker, a City Council representative to the Planning Board, said the proposed Brock Street entrance would be too close to the Washington Street intersection.

“You’re going to have an accident there, someone will get rear-ended,” he said.

Art Nickless, president of Norway Plains Associates engineering firm, said the Brock Street access point would reduce the number of cars exiting and entering onto Washington Street.

He told Foster’s that the Brock Street entrance into the commercial parking lot would be about 60 feet away from the intersection with Washington Street.

Derek Peters, Planning Board vice chairman, said it would be more preferable if the Brock Street exit was right-turn-only.

Walker recalled an application that came before the Planning Board more than a year ago, in which Lynette Nyberg was proposing to convert an existing building on that plot of land into an orthodontist office. Walker said the Planning Board, despite reservations, approved that application by a narrow vote. He said board members were hesitant to approve the Brock Street entrance being close to the Washington Street intersection, while those plans only included eight parking spaces. The current application for the commercial building includes about 80 parking spaces, thus more traffic coming in, making the current plans even more difficult for approval, said Walker.

“It’s just begging for an accident,” said Walker.

Planning Board Chairman Nel Sylvain agreed.

“It’s a safety issue, big time,” especially with proximity to the Brock Street schools, as well as school buses traveling on Brock Street on a regular basis, Sylvain said.

Sylvain asked Groen if it would hurt the project to have the Brock Street access point removed from plans. Groen said it would, though the majority of people would use the Washington Street entrance and exit.

Groen told Planning Board members that without the Brock Street entrance, he may consider having a roadway loop around the commercial building, which would require filling in wetlands.

“Certainly, it’s most attractive to have entrance and exit off Brock Street,” he said.

According to Groen, McGroen Partners has a ‘handshake agreement” with Nyberg, for Nyberg to have an orthodontist office in the new commercial building if the plans get approved.

Groen Builders would also have corporate offices in the new commercial building.

As with all buildings constructed by Groen Builders, the new commercial building would be super energy efficient, said Groen, and would exceed the New Hampshire Energy Code by 50 percent.

Plans for the commercial building are scheduled to come back before the Planning Board on Feb. 25.